Apparatus for molding plastics



y 1949' v s. K. moxNEs 2,476,558

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING PLASTICS Filed Feb. 25, 1946 /0 27 l 26 i A. 2 j

J7 FL. i

I J L I I INVENTOR.

avmv Ir. Max N555 Patented July 19, 1949 Sven K. Moxnes's,

to Minnea-polis-floneywell Minneapolis, M

Application February 23, 1945,

Minneapolis; Mimi; assigno'r ltegiilaktor Company,

ri., incorporation crnelaware Serial No. 649,723

6' Claims; (01-; 18 4M) My invention relates: to an improvementin forming. molded plastic article; I In. particular, the invention iscon'cerned with an improved apparatus by, which articles may be formed from plastic material by molding. V

In the practice of the art, of molding plastics there exists ailarge" class of materials used for molding which must he held. under pressure for a variable length ofitime in order that the article may be tempered to permanently assume a desired condition; In certain instances, the tem -f p rms is attained by baking or curing, at a temperature which may be either constant or graduated, to give the desired permanent cqndition In the prior art it has been the usual p'ramtice to main tain the mold in the press duringithe tempering period. The disadvantage of this'lprocedure is that the pressv is in. reality idle duringthe tempering period, thus reducing the output of the press;

My invention contemplates the use of atran'sF ferable' mold of the type. that may be consid-' ered as" a selfconta'ind pressure'runit; By'the use of a mold'of this" type, the; plastic material may be introduced from a press'jund'er pressure, and the mold may thenb'e' closed or sealed with; out diminishing the" pressure, after which itmay be transferred-fromthe 'pre'ssito aternpering,con dition. Thus; by the usefof"thisprocedure a d apparatus the press'isnot'" held idlei during the tempering period, and much. larger production can be obtained from asingle" press, thereby eliminating the necessity of I having several pressesto obtain a given production; I

In additi on to thesavingiinequipment e'x-' pensdanother particular advantage: of the: pres;- ent apparatus is that the" article may be made in such a manneras to substantiallyv reduce the amount of shrinkage in the; finished product.

Because it is essential to injeettlreplastic maft'erial into the n ld-a't a relativelyhighltempera ture, the article whenformed'and cooledto" ambient temperature and removed from the mold, will have shrunk insize; Pliave found that this difii'culty may be obviated by introducing the plastic material into the mold under a pressure which-isin excess'oftheflnormal elastic point'of the plastic material so Jthat 'Whent h e article is cooled under a" self c'ont'ained pressure it will, when removedfroin phenom, expand'sufflciently to counteract the shrinkage; I Thus; the I shrink? age'factoris inversely proportional to; theainount of pressure applied 'when -introducing tne:plastic material into? the more? and by varying. the

attainedby coolin'g while in others it is type adapted for self;-

amount or pressure applied in introducing t e material, the degree of shrinkage maybe (301'- respondii gly varied; V I I I I I one object is toprovide apparatus for moldingplasti'c articles in which the plastic material may be introduced and transferred under selfcontai ied pressure from the press to a temperna a e Anothr object is to provide apparatus for varying hrinkage in plastic articles made by the injection process. I I I Avfurther object is to reduce the equipment e'ripense in a plastic molding process by prov'rding 'relatively inexpensive transfer molds of a m contained pressure to" re} duce the operating timeper' article of the more expensive presses; I

Other andfurther objects will become apparent from the following detailed description and claims, and from the appended drawing; in which: 1

Figure 1 is a sidexelevationof one example of the type of apparatus which may be used in performing-the. process described herein,rwith some parts broken away and others shown in crosssection"; I I.

Figure" 2 isacross-section taken on the line 24 -2: ofF igure' 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and. i Y Figures: isa cross+section taken on the line 32-3" ofl i'gure 1,1ooking in the direction of the arrows. v

The apparatus-to" be describedhereinafter is generally; applicable to the formation of molded articles from substances being oi' either natural OTJSYTllJhElllG origimwhich are classified as pl-astlcs. In the formation of articles from-this class: of, substances byq a molding process, the moldable plas-tic rnaterial is introduced or injected into the rnoldunder considerable pressure. Wh e ce n meth in such a rnannerr that the article assumes its iinished -cond-ition substantially instantly, other substances andprocesses require that the pressure be continued'ior a more or less prolonged period of rtirne durin which the material must pas's' thr ugh a transient condition before it arrivesat aL- desired ph ase or condition which'it will permanently assume. 'The process which-constitutes the" present" invention is applicable to the, 1atter condition., This transient condition may be. either I cooling process or a baking or curing process, which can beconducted at either a'i constant temperatur or at graduated temperatures; Thpe'riddbftinfe in which the mamolding are conducted exterior members,

ordinarily used, the user is not deriving the greatest possible value therefrom and thus by substituting the relatively inexpensive apparatus dis- Closed herein, considerable economy is effected. According to the present invention, a plurality of self-contained pressure devices are used in conjunction with a press in such a manner that one device may be filled with plastic material and closed while under pressure exerted from the press, after which the device is removed from the press under its self-contained pressure and is transferred to a tempering area. The tempering area may be an oven, a refrigerating means, or possibly the ambient temperature of the atmosphere. In any case, the device is allowed to remain with the plastic material being subjected to the enclosed pressure until the desired quality has been obtained. Thereafter, the device may be opened and the article removed. Thus, it will be apparent that where the method is applied to the mass production of molded articles, the expense of a plurality of presses is replaced by the comparatively cheaper devices which may be re-used after a simple operation.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1, the general reference numeral l0 indicates a closable selfecontained pressure unit for molding plastic rings according to the present method. The unit I0 is adapted for support in recess H of plate l2, and by means not shown, it maybe moved into recess |3 of plate l4, which is a stationary portion of the press and is analogous to the upper platen of a conventional transfer molding press. A conduit 1 5 communicates with a supply of plastic material which may be located over the top of the upper platen of the press. A piston I6 is adapted to slidably move through the conduit l5 and enter an aperture I! in the upper plate I4, to inject plastic material indicated by reference numeralifl into the mold. Piston I6 is provided with a recessed lowered surface I9 whose purpose will be disclosed hereinafter.

The self-contained pressure unit ID has a heavy circular member which is adapted to fit into recess |3 of plate l4, and which is provided with a recess 2| in its top surface which coincides with aperture I! in plate l4, to receive plastic material l8 injected by piston l6. Shown on the right side of member 20 is an aperture 22 which cooperates with position securing means to be disclosed hereinafter. Shown projecting downwardly from member 20 is a tubular extension 23 having a cylindrical center portion 24 and .a lower threaded extremity 25. A plurality of apertures 26 extend through the opposite sides of tubular extension 23 to furnish communication with the cylindrical center portion 24.

Circu-mscribing the tubular extension 23 below member 20 are a plurality of mold plates. The upper plate 21 and the lower plate 28 are each smooth on one side where they abut the adjacent but the several intermediate plates 29 each have mold surfaces on their opposite faces as shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring now to Figures 2 and. 3, surface 30 corresponds to the upper surface of plate 28 and also the upper surface of the several plates 29, while surface 3| corresponds to the lower surface of plate 2'! and also the lower surfaces of the several plates 29; Surface 30 is provided with a circular recess 32 which cooperates with a similarly shaped recess 33 in surface 3|, to provide the mold form for the plastic article which in the present disclosure is a circular ring. A pair of passages 34 which are more commonly referred to as gates provide communication between the apertures 28 of tubular extension 23 and recess 32 of surface 30. Each of the several plate members has an aperture within which is secured a position indicating stud 36, so that the several pairs of plates includin member 20 will always be secured together in an identical position, as it is essential that the apertures 26 in tubular extension 23 always coincide with passages 34 in the several plates to provide an entry for the plastic material. A slot 3? is provided in the edge of each of the surfaces so that a tool, such as a screw driver, may be inserted between the several plates to separate them after the molded'article has been formed.

The several mold plates 21, 28 and 29 are secured on the tubular extension 23 by a cap member 38 which is separated from plate 28 by a washer 39. The cap member 38 cooperates with the threaded portion 25 on the tubular extension 23 and may be firmly secured in place by a tool which can be inserted in apertures 40 about the periphery of cap 38. I

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, and'3, a valve structure is shown in the form of a rod 4| situated in the cylindrical center portion 24 of tubular extension 23. The rod 4| has a pair of longitudinal slots 42 positioned on opposite sides thereof which extend downwardly from the recess 2| to a point below the several apertures 26 in the tubular extension 23. Rod 4| is mounted at its lower end in an integral collar member 43 which is provided for rotatable movementin the recess by a plurality of graphite filled grooves 44. Rod 4| is subject to considerable pressure from the plastic material which is injected through the top of the device as shown in Figure 1 and therefore any other bearing means for supporting the valve structure so that it may be made rotatable would be within the spirit of this invention. A manually operable handle 45 is connected to collar member 43 to provide for rotation of valve member 4| and longitudinal slots 42 through a arc to act as a valve with respect to apertures 26 in tubular extension 23.,

In operation, the process may be conducted as follows: the unit In is assembled and firmly positioned in the recess II of plate |2 beneath plate l4 with the valve mechanism 4| in the open posi tion indicated by the legend on. A quantity of plastic material l8 which in. a particular example maybe a rubbercompound, is positioned within the container situated above conduit i5 and maintained at a temperature of approximately 300 F. The. piston I6 is moved downwardly through the conduit |5 forcing a quantity of the plastic material 8 ahead of itthrough aperture, |1 into recess 2| and then in the vertical slots 42 .of valve rod 4|, throughapertures 26 of tubular extension 23 and passages 34 into the recesses 32 and 33 ofthe several plates 27, 28 and 29. The

force exerted by piston I6 on the plastic material 5. f6 may be just suffici-ent to properly injfect'the plastic compound withinthe mold. However, where it is desirable to-mini-mizethe amount of. shrinkagein the finished: product, thepressure should greatly exceed the normalelastic point of'thecompound and may for example be as much as 15,000 pounds, per square inch. After the pressure has been fully exerted, the valve mechanism. til is moved to the o positionby handle 45, and piston 18 is retracted; As the-pis';-- ton I6 is movedupwardly, the recessed lower surface I9 thereof will cause adhesion with the remainder of plastic material contained in recess Eli andthes slotted portionsflof'valve 4t, soathat ai substantialportion oi the-excesscompound: will be withdrawn from the mold by the upward movement ot piston Hit The pressis then. opened andthe unit UL which is now sealed under itslown pressure by the closing. of valve M is removed and transferred as an integral unit to a temper-- lng area. In the case of a rubber compound molded into a shape of the proportions of the ring structures shown in the drawing, it is necessary that the tempering or curing be continued at a temperature of approximately 300 for possibly ten minutes. Thereafter unit It] is removed from the tempering oven and opened by unscrewing cap 38 and prying the respective plates apart by insertion of a tool in the slots 31 between the plates. If the plastic compound was injected into the mold at a pressure above the normal elastic point of the material, it will, when removed from the mold, expand to its normal condition, thus compensating for the normal shrinkage which would have occurred had the material been injected into the press at a lower pressure.

The specific temperature and pressure set forth in the example given above are not intended in any sense to limit the process to these specific conditions which are applicable to such com-' pounds as natural rubber. Nor is the process limited solely for use with this one compound or. those which are closely related thereto, for I have found that it is equally applicable to numerous other plastic materials and preferably to those which require a tempering period after the mold-,

ing operation. I have found, however, that in the case of those synthetic compounds which are formed from polymerized polyamides, which are more commonly known as nylon, that the temperature must be considerably higher and preferably in the vicinity of 525 F., while the pressure used should preferably be considerably less than 15,000 lbs. pressure per square inch. Other plastic compounds will in general require pressures and temperatures within the range given in the preceding examples.

The curing or tempering time at which the unit In must be maintained at its self-enclosed pressure will to a large degree depend upon the size of the article being formed and the particular conditions of tempering which will vary with different materials.

. It should be understood that the process is not limited to the specific examples of material, temperature or pressure given herein, nor to the specific disclosure of the self-contained pressure unit. Any plastic material may be used which requires a period of tempering following its formation and the temperatures disclosed are those necessary in the one instance to maintain the plastic in a fluid condition, and in the other instance the most desirable curing temperature. Likewise, in the case of the self-contained pressure unit, mechanically operable means may be 6 provided for moving the vaiveer assembling the device; and it will be readily recognized that-the cooperating mold plates-- must be constructed: to conform with the size and shapeof the articles being molded, Therefore, I" to be limited only by theterms of the appeiid'edv claims.

I claim asm y invention:

1 Apparatus for forminga molded article; comprising two mold members coolzverable with each other to form a mold'surface therebetween; said. members each having a common central aperture; a: hollow member communicating with at source ofi moldablematerialand: being adapted to into thecentral: aperture ofisaid'mold meme bersg... saidhollow member having an aperture communicating with a, gate to the. moldsurface in. one of saidi molmmembers; andxvalve means.

innlu'dingi a. rod having, a longitu'dina'lz cut, posit, tinnedzwithin said: hollow member to: admit-moldiable material through the aperture in said hollow member to said mold surface, said rod being rotatable on its central longitudinal axis to enclose the moldable material within said mold surface.

2. Apparatus for forming molded articles, comprising a plurality of members cooperable with each other in pairs to form a mold surface between each of said pairs of members, each of said pairs of members having a central aperture which is adapted to communicate with a source of moldable material, one of each of said pairs of members having a gate communicating between said aperture and said mold surface, and valve means including a rod having a longitudinal cut, positioned in the central aperture of said plurality of members, being adapted to admit moldable material through said longitudinal cut and said gates into each of said mold surfaces, said rod being rotatable on its central longitudinal axis to move said longitudinal cut away from said gates to enclose the moldable material within each of said mold surfaces.

3. In molding apparatus, the combination of mold members having apertures therein, cooperating surfaces on said mold members forming a mold cavity therebetween, a gate passage in one of said members between its cavity and its aperture, a hollow bolt extending through the apertures in said members and holding them together in sealed relationship, the wall of said bolt having an opening therethrough in alignment with said gate passage, and elongated valve means positioned in said hollow bolt and having a passage therein adapted to selectively establish or cut off communication between said opening and the exterior of said bolt.

4. In molding apparatus, the combination of a plurality of stacked mold members having apertures therein, cooperating surfaces on said mold members forming a mold cavity thereb etween, a gate passage in one of said members between its cavity and its aperture, a hollow bolt extending through the apertures in said members and holding them together in sealed relationship, the wall of said bolt having an opening therethrough in alignment with said gate passage, and elongated valve means positioned in said hollow bolt and having a passage therein adapted to selectively establish or cut off communication between said opening and the exterior of said bolt.

5. In molding apparatus, the combination of a plurality of stacked mold members having apertures therein, cooperating surfaces on said mold members forming mold cavities therebetween, a gate passage in each pair of said members beitween their cavit and-their apertures, a hollow bolt extending through the apertures in said members and holding them together in sealed relationship, the wall of said bolt having openings therethrough in alignment with said gate passages, and elongated valve means positioned in said hollow bolt and having a passage therein adapted to selectively and simultaneously establish or cut on communication between said openings and the exterior of said bolt.

6. In molding apparatus, the combination of mold members having apertures therein, coopcrating surfaces on said mold members forming a mold cavity therebetween, a gate passage in one of said members between its cavity and its aperture, a hollow bolt extending through the apertures in said members and holding them together in sealed relationship, the wall of said bolt having an opening therethrough in alignment with said gate passage, and valve means positioned in said hollow bolt and having a passage therein adapted to selectively establish or cut off communication between said opening and the exterior of said bolt.

SVEN K. MOXNESS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

